GoodEnoughChats

Dan Bowsher

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MENTAL HEALTH

We're on a mission to destigmatise men's mental health, one chat at a time. GoodEnoughChats features conversations between regular guys talking about their lived experiences of mental health. The chats are unscripted and unedited, and always based on the same five questions so guest can choose how much they want to share before we hit record.

11/27/2025

Perfectionism and the long tail of burnout, with Dan Bowsher

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats After more than 35 conversations listening to other men’s stories, the tables turn – and it’s Dan’s turn in the chair. In this episode, guest host Ben Rogers interviews Dan Bowsher, founder and host of GoodEnoughChats, about his own experience of burnout, anxiety and clinical perfectionism. Dan talks about the years he spent pushing himself to exhaustion, the collapse that forced him to stop, and the long, uneven recovery that followed. He reflects on how therapy, medication and self-awareness helped him rebuild, what he’s learned about fear and avoidance, and the shift that came from finally realising that good enough is good enough. It’s an open and personal conversation about the lasting impact of burnout, the power of small steps, and what it means to live – and work – differently after coming through the fog. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview 2:09 – Intro to Dan 6:22 – Why did you come on the show? 11:44 – How was your last week? 15:35 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 55:46 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:06:56 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: • NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ • CALM – https://www.thecalmzone.net/ • Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ • Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 14m
11/20/2025

Redundancy and rediscovering your identity, with Ben Robins

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats When Ben Robins was suddenly made redundant after eight years in a job he’d built from the ground up, it shook both his confidence and his sense of identity. I triggered some deep reflection, confronting how much of his self-worth was tied to work, and how patterns of over-giving and self-criticism had left him burnt out and unfulfilled. Through therapy and gradual change, Ben began rebuilding with more self-compassion and a clearer understanding of what balance really means for him. In this episode, he talks about the shock of redundancy, learning to grieve the life he left behind, and the process of finding a more sustainable way forward, one that integrates family, business, and personal wellbeing. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview 1:42 – Intro to Ben 3:37 – Why did you decide now was the right time to share your story? 11:10 – How has your last week been? 17:10 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 34:35 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 45:42 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: • NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ • CALM – https://www.thecalmzone.net/ • Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ • Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

56 min
11/13/2025

Introversion, anxiety, and burnout recovery, with Peter Shearman

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/GoodEnoughChats ☕ Peter Shearman’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever pushed themselves too hard for too long. A lifelong introvert working in a world that rewards extroversion, Peter spent years trying to meet expectations that didn’t quite fit. Over time, the constant pressure to perform, please and stay “on” caught up with him — leading to anxiety, exhaustion and eventually burnout. During the pandemic, things reached a breaking point. Disconnected from decision-making at work and fearing for the future, he finally sought help from his GP and began treatment for anxiety and depression. What followed was a long, non-linear recovery — from the physical and emotional crash, through medication and CBT, to rebuilding his sense of self-worth on healthier ground. In this episode, Peter talks about what he’s learned: why it took so long to ask for help, the role of shame in burnout, and how he now measures success by the quality of his actions, not their outcomes. It’s an honest, relatable conversation about pressure, recovery and learning to be kinder to yourself. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview 2:09 – Intro to Peter 6:22 – Why Peter came on the show 11:44 – How was your last week? 15:35 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 55:46 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:06:56 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: • NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ • CALM – https://www.thecalmzone.net/ • Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ • Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 15m
11/06/2025

Surviving suicide and the power of faith, with Barry King

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats Barry King has lived with clinical depression for much of his adult life. In 2016, feeling exhausted and believing that those around him would be better off without him, Barry attempted to take his own life. He was found unconscious, taken to hospital and spent three days in a coma. Doctors didn’t expect him to survive – but against all odds, he woke up with no lasting physical damage. Barry credits his survival to his faith in God, and since that day he has made it his purpose to help others. He speaks openly about his experiences through the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation and works to reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide. This conversation is raw and difficult at times, but it’s also full of hope. Barry’s story shows what it means to find meaning again – and how powerful it can be to share it. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview 2:13 – Intro to Barry 8:44 – Why Barry came on the show 11:01 – How was your last week? 14:50 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 50:33 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:25:59 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: • NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ • CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ • Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ • Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 32m
10/30/2025

Embracing ADHD & neurodiversity in your 50s, with Gary Lewis

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats Gary Lewis has spent much of his adult life battling anxiety, self-criticism and a constant sense of frustration – feelings that, for years, went unexplained. In this episode, Gary talks about the long road to understanding himself, from struggling through school and early jobs to finally being diagnosed with ADHD in his 50s. He describes how that discovery reframed his past, helped him find self-acceptance, and gave him new energy and optimism for the future. We also talk about freelance life, the impact of medication, building support networks, and why being open about our mental health can change not just our own lives, but the lives of those around us. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview 1:35 – Intro to Gary 6:31 – Why Gary came on the show 31:20 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 49:19 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:07:35 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? Connect with Gary: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garylewiscopywriter More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 28m
10/23/2025

From feeling lost to finding space, with Rob Dawson

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats This episode traces Rob Dawson’s journey from feeling lost as a kid growing up in Lincolnshire to building a life he never expected on the other side of the world. Rob talks openly about drifting through his early years, unsure of what he wanted, but increasingly clear on what he didn’t. After walking away from academia, a serendipitous nudge toward arborism took him to New Zealand, where he found something that had been missing: space – both literal and emotional. We talk about the decades in between – climbing trees, building trails, working in the bush – and the personal development that happened alongside it. We also talk about the end of his marriage, and how he’s dealing with the shift away from the life he thought he’d built. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 – Dan’s opener and overview 2:02 – Intro to Rob 6:49 – Why Rob came on the show 11:23 – How was your last week? 14:18 – How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 50:00 – Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:08:52 – What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? Connect with Rob: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-dawson-b71aa7347/ Website: https://ww.leadtolive.co.nz More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: • NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ • CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ • Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ • Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 17m
10/16/2025

Social anxiety, impossible comparisons, and spotting early indicators, with Simon Spencer

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats In this episode, Simon Spencer reflects on his experiences of social anxiety, emotional fatigue, and the challenge of resisting constant self-comparison. He talks openly about how these issues first showed up in his teenage years, how they shaped his 20s, and how things have gradually improved as he’s learned to recognise his own needs more clearly. Simon also speaks about the role running has played in helping him maintain balance, how he’s formed a healthy relationship with alcohol, and how blogging during the pandemic helped him feel more connected. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 Dan’s opener and overview 1:42 Intro to Simon 5:49 Why Simon came on the show 13:06 How was your last week? 23:36 How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 50:02 Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:07:50 What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? Connect with Simon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonfromuk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonspencer88 More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 26m
10/09/2025

Burnout, depression, and late diagnosis ADHD, with Matt Hocking

☕ Support the show through Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/goodenoughchats Matt Hocking opens up about what happens when years of pressure, emotional over-functioning, and unprocessed trauma finally catch up with you, and how a late diagnosis of ADHD has helped him to start making sense of it all. Matt talks about hitting a wall after trying to push through months of mental and physical exhaustion. He describes feeling completely shut down, dissociative, and unable to access any of the tools that used to help him cope. That collapse prompted a long period of reflection which has gone on to shape the way he lives his life today. He shares what recovery has looked like so far, including therapy, nervous system work, creative rebalancing, and learning to recognise what safe even feels like. Matt’s fully embraced radical candour, and it makes for a layered, generous insight from someone still deep in the work and willing to tell his story exactly as it is. He also discusses the role he’s now undertaken to support ABand of Brothers. Previous guest Steve Jackson also talked about this, so search out his episode for more insights. Here are the timestamps for our core questions: 0:00 Dan’s opener and overview 1:50 Intro to Matt 6:31 Why Matt came on the show 21:13 How was your last week? 27:59 How has your relationship with your mental health evolved? 1:09:41 Have there been any lightbulb moments for you? 1:30:09 What’s the most important thing someone going through this can do? Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthocking/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt.hocking/ Email: matt@leap.eco More info about the series: https://goodenoughchats.com If you’ve been affected by anything raised in this episode, please know you’re not alone. You can speak to someone at: NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

1h 42m

We're on a mission to destigmatise men's mental health, one chat at a time. GoodEnoughChats features conversations between regular guys talking about their lived experiences of mental health. The chats are unscripted and unedited, and always based on the same five questions so guest can choose how much they want to share before we hit record.

Creator

Dan Bowsher
Years Active

2K
Episodes

36
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Dan Bowsher
Show Website

GoodEnoughChats